Snow skate



' Aug. 25, 1925.

' P. F. DENNING SNOW SKATE Filed Dec. 23. 1921 m m N I A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK F. DEIINING, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SNOW SKATE.

Application filed December 23, 1921. Serial No. 524,540.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, PATRICK F. DENNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Snow Skates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a peculiar type of skate which is so constructed that it may be satisfactorily used for enabling the wearer to propel himself over ground covered with soft snow as well as over icy surfaces. In addition, my invention contemplates a construction which may be formed of light sheet metal having runners either formed integrally therewith, or removablysecured thereto, whereby the skater may move with comparative ease. Additional features include, means for enabling the skate to be quickly attached and removed from a shoe together with ei'ficient locking means for enabling a child to attach the skate with ease.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a sliding device which may be made sufficiently wide to support both feet of the wearer yet which will be self sustaining and which may be satisfactorily used on either snow or ice.

The means for accomplishing the above objects will be fully set forth in the following description which relates to the drawings, and the essential characteristics of my invention will be summarized in the claims.

Inv the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a skate embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a skate having replaceable runners and flexible metallic clamping strips; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the runners removed from the skate; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a portion of the blank from which the skate body is formed; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4 and showing the lugs stamped upwardly therefrom; Figs. 6 and are sections taken on the line 6-6 and 7-7 in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively; Fig. 8' is a. longitudinal section through the lock shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the lock taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 in Fig. 1.

In the figures, I have shown a skate wherei in the body comprises a substantially rectangular strip of metal 10 having the forward end thereof curved upwardly as at 11, and having aheel plate 12, and toe plate 13, for holding straps 14 and 15 respectively. The

forward portion 11 is preferably slightly wider than the main body portion so as to prevent snow from being thrown back onto portion supports .the wearer when the skate is used on snow.

To secure the skate to the shoe .of the wearer, the preferred form is illustrated as embodying flexible straps which are adapted to be threaded through the plates 12 and 13 respectively. These plates may be rigidly secured to the body, as by welding, or in any other approved form, the only requirement being that the under surface of the skate be left free from sharp projections. In the form illustrated, in Fig. 1, the heel plate is provided with a pair of loops 20 which are stamped from the upright portion 21. These loops are inclined at an angle to each other,

whereby the strap 14 may be passed through one loop and folded before being passed through the'other. In this way, the strap is normally held at the proper angle for securing it to ashoe. The position of the upright member 21 is shown as slightly in advance of the end of the skate and slightly inclined rearwardly, but it is evident that it may be located considerable distance forwardly of the rearward end whereby the skater is prevented from falling backwardly if the toe portion of the skate should be raised a slight amount from the ice or if the skater is sliding down a hill.

As a modification of construction, I have shown in Fig. 2 a skate wherein the runners are formed separately from the bod of the skate. These runners are preferab y of hardened steel and are shown as comprising channel-shaped members 25, having flanges 26 projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof. To secure the runners to the skate, a satisfactory means is illustrated in the drawings as embodying lugs 27 which may be struck upwardly from the body of the skate on either side of a slot 28. These projecting portions 27 are adapted to engage corresponding recesses 29 in the runners and to be swaged over the flanges 26. In this way, the wear, occasioned by using the skate on ice, does not destroy the entire body 10, but only wears the hardened runners which may be easily replaced.

As a modification of a retaining means, I have illustrated flexible members or straps 30 and 31 which may be stamped from the metal forming the heel and toe plates 32 and 33 respectively. The free ends of these members terminate in loops as at 34 and 35 through which a cord 37 may be passed for clamping all of the ends together and thereby securely holding the straps to a shoe.

To aid the wearer in fastening the cord, I may provide a lock which comprises a casing 40 through which the ends 41 and 42 of the cord are adapted to be passed. Intermediate the cords, is a lever 43 which is pivotally mounted, through a lost motion connection 44, between the walls of the casing. This lever 43 has teeth 45 therein on opposite sides to engage the cords and lock them against the side walls of the casing. I have found that with a lock of this character, the straps may be locked by grasping one cord in each hand and pulling them in opposite directions until the straps are brought tightly against the shoe. This automatically locks the cords until the lever is manually shifted to disengage the teeth 45, whereupon the lock is quickly released.

While I have described my-invention as -a skate which may be attached tothe shoe of the wearer, yet it is apparent that I may increase the width of the sliding device to support both feet of the wearer and thus to obtain a light durable toboggan which will function to ermit coasting on either snow or ice. If t e sliding device is made sufiiciently narrow to support only one foot, then under such circumstances I obtain a skate which may be chieaply ponstructed and which may be satisfactorily used by the wearer on ground covered either with ice.

the wearer when the skate is used on snow,

each of said runners being outside the weight supporting area of contact between the skate and the shoe of the wearer.

2. A sliding device comprising a one piece fiat body portion of light sheet metal having the forward end curved upwardly and having a air of hollow runners protruding therefrom and in spaced relation to each other, the runners extending for substantially the entire length of the body portion and near the side edges thereof whereby the device may be self-sustaining.

3. A sliding device comprising a flat body portion having the front end curved upwardly and having a pair of parallel runners integral therewith and formed from the body portion, the runners being spaced inwardly from the side edges of the body portion and extending for substantially the entire length of the body portion and said runners having the outermost upper edges thereof lying substantially in a plane with the top of the body portion.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

PATRICK F. DENNING. 

